Wareham man found guilty of murdering Bridgewater teen

Bryan Grassie, 20, was found guilty of second-degree murder Monday in the 2012 fatal stabbing of Brendan Mahoney.

Benjamin Paulin The Patriot Ledger @BPaulin_Ledger

BROCKTON – Bryan Grassie covered his face with his hands as court officers fastened the shackles around his ankles Monday afternoon.A jury in Brockton Superior Court had just found Grassie, 20, guilty of second-degree murder in the 2012 fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Brendan Mahoney.

The Wareham man stabbed brothers Brendan and Brian Mahoney, both of Bridgewater, a total of 12 times after a fight broke out following a graduation party in Wareham on July 29, 2012.

The Mahoney brothers were unarmed during the fight, prosecutor Tara Cappola said.

Grassie had been an uninvited guest at a party on Priscilla Avenue in Wareham, authorities said, and was described by guests as “belligerent” and “confrontational.”

The police report filed in court states that as he was escorted from the house, “Grassie reportedly made further statements towards the Mahoney brothers ... prompting the Mahoney brothers to run up to confront him.”

A witness told police he watched what he first thought were punches being thrown until he noticed blood on both brothers, and one of them collapsed to the ground, court documents show.

According to the report, “After stabbing the two brothers, Grassie reportedly stood there for a moment without saying a word, then calmly turned and walked away.”

Brendan died from his injuries in the hospital two days after the stabbing and Brian, who was 19 at the time, survived after being in critical condition.

Family members of Mahoney and Grassie both cried after the sentencing was handed down from Judge Frank Gaziano.

Grassie was found guilty of second-degree murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He was found not guilty of armed assault with intent to murder.

He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder conviction after the five-day trial and will serve a concurrent sentence of 6-10 years for the assault and battery charge.

Family members of Mahoney and Grassie declined to comment after the trial.